ROBOCOP

‘Multinational corporation versus national government’ is how the plot kicks off, then it progresses into ‘man versus the machine he’s attached to’ and concludes with ‘machine-man versus greedy corporation. The filmmakers have taken the poignant 1987 original and remade it for the A.D.D. Generation. Whereas the original had an “R” rating the 2014 version is rated “PG 13,” and this significant change waters down much of the seriousness and ghastliness that was the hallmark of the 1987 film. Officer Alex Murphy of 2014 is victim to a car bomb but this cannot even compare to the horrifying treatment 1987’s Murphy goes through. Whereas old Murphy battles to regain his memories, the new Murphy already knows who he is and is only out for vengeance/ justice. The rich multi-layered story of the original has been evaporated into an insolvent remake. Joel Kinnaman is the poor-man’s Peter Weller (1987 RoboCop). Kinnaman gives a hollow performance and even the stellar supporting cast (Oldman, Keaton, Haley and Jackson) fails to inject life to this film. Regardless of the better CGI, elaborate sets and fancy motorbike this movie is truly unnecessary. RoboCop (1987) is a classic sci-fi movie that stands the test of time and doesn’t require a reconstruction. Director Jose Padilha and screenwriter Joshua Zetumer have taken something that didn’t need any fixing and just broken it. But most of the blame falls upon the producers and studio executives who initiated this redundant modification.  

Rating: 4/10

S. V. Fernando